Women's Bantabaa aspiration is always to tell a story that has never been told and bring a story to public that are always waving the flag of freedom yet standby silently with the concerning situation of the people, their narratives, their perspectives, their understanding of the world around them, without feeling that they are constantly defending their religious and cultural identity.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Who Is Telling The Truth: Editor Jobe or You Nanama’s lawyer grills Editor Sallah

editor Sallah

Mr Assan Sallah, news editor of The Daily Observer newspaper was offered to referee which one is the truth: his side of the story or the dissimilar version of his immediate boss, Mr Alagie Jobe, the deputy editor- in- chief. And he decided in his favour, but did not make mention of his boss.’
The young editor, who doubles as the president of young journalists in The Gambia was giving testimony on Tuesday against fired co-worker, Mr Nanama Keita, who is facing false information trial at the magistrates’ court in Banjul.
The former deputy editor and head of sports desk of the pro-government newspaper is alleged to have presented false information by claiming wrongful termination of his engagement when he petitioned The Daily Observer Company to the Office of the President.
Editor Keita however denied any wrongdoing.
“Between Jobe and yourself who is telling the truth,” his lawyer Neneh Cham-Chongan questioned Mr Sallah when he said that Nanama was present at a meeting that was prompted by a publication on Freedom, a Gambian online newspaper based in U.S, which alleges financial malpractices by Mr Pa Malick Faye, the managing director.
“I am telling the truth,” responded Mr Sallah, who appeared as state witness no.2 and his testimony came after that of his boss,’ Mr Jobe, the prime state witness.
“I put it you that you are not telling the truth because Alagie Jobe had said that my client was never invited at the first meeting,” defense lawyer Neneh Cham charged, but Mr Sallah declined to give in.
Sallah said, he was present when a search was being conducted to find out who fed Freedom Newspaper. He denied that, Mr Keita was asked to sign in into his personal account. This, according to lawyer Cham is a distinct account with that of Alagie Jobe’s.
“Would you be surprised that Alagie Jobe told the court that the accused had logged in and his e-mail account was searched thoroughly, but nothing was found about Freedom newspaper,” the defense lawyer enquired.
“No,” replied Mr Sallah, who went further to deny that Mr Keita former office, was opened when the Observer office complex was being refurbished.
“Your statement,” lawyer Cham put to him, “oh! Freedom oh! Sherriff Bojang’ is a complete fabrication and my client was never given the Quran to swear.” Mr Sallah however, maintained his point.
On whether or not Nanama was a deputy editor- in- chief of the company, Mr Sallah said, “Not to my knowledge.”
“Are you telling this court that your managing director was lying when he says in the attestation that the accused was the deputy editor-in-chief,” Neneh asked further and Sallah replied: “No.”
Neneh went on: “And did anybody hold that position without you knowing.” Assan replied: “No.”
The trial resumes August 31, 2011.

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About Me

Binta A Bah is a young Gambian journalists/blogger who is excited, on the sustainability reporting front which she took as massive a headway as a career. She is the publisher of women’s Bantabaa, an online blog which focuses on human rights, particularly women’s right, press freedom and freedom of expression. She started the journalism trade with The Daily News in 2009 while pursuing a one year certificate course in journalism at Insight Training Center. She hold a diploma in journalism. At The Daily News, she rose through the ranks to become a senior judicial affairs correspondent. She has a vast experience of covering high profile cases including treason trials. She run the ‘Musoolula Bantabaa’ on the Daily News, a weekly column that focuses on women’s affairs. In 2011, she was awarded The Daily News Journalist of the year. She now works with the Standard Newspaper as an associate editor following the closure of The Daily News by state authorities.